Apparatus for washing clothes.



- 'M.- J. BAKER. APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES. APPLICATION TILED JULY5, 1907.

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WITNESSES:

MANUEL J. BAKER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING CLOTHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed July 5, 1907. Serial No. 382,354.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANUEL J. BAKER, of the city of Buffalo, in the.State of New York, United States of America, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Apparatus for Washing Clothes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My object is to devise simple and-cheap means for use in Washing clotheswhich will enable the rubbing board to be dispensed with, and which willdo its work effectively with a minimum of labor.

The device comprises a cylinder within which is fitted a water tightpiston operated by a rod passing up through a tube connected to the topof the cylinder. A spring is provided tending to raise the piston, andthe lower edge of the piston is provided with an annular flan e whichanswers the double purpose of stifl ening the cylinder and of preventingit bedding itself too deeply in the clothes.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved clothes washing device.Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of thedevice showing corrugations in the annular flange thereof. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of part of the cylinder showing a corrugated flange. Fig.5 is a plan view of a preferred form of bottom flange, shown in sectionin Fig. 2.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different figures. 4

A is a cylinder open at its lower end. In its upper end is formed anopening communicating with a guide tube B secured to,

the top. Through this guide tube slides a piston rod or handle C. To thelower end of this handle is secured the piston D.

As it is my object to make a machine which can be constructed as cheaplyas possible, exact fitting of the cylinder and piston is not easilyobtained. By means of the construction shown I am, however, enabled tosecure as close a fit as is necessary for eflicient action.

The piston comprises two plates a, b, between which is fitted a disk offelt or leather 0. The upper plate a is closely fitted to the cylinderwhile the plate I) is of somewhat less diameter. The edge of the felt isthus permitted to turn up in a flange, as shown, forming a sort ofshallow cup-shaped piston.

The pressure of the fluid on the down stroke of the piston tends topress the edges of the felt into contact with the cylinder, makingsubstantially a water tight fit. The piston is normally pressed upwardby spring pres sure. For this purpose I employ an external and aninternal spring though I do not restrict myself to the use of two.Externally a coil spring E may be placed about the guide tube B bearingagainst the top of the cylinder. This guide tube is preferably providedwith slots 0 for the passage of a pin F passing through the handle andengaging the upper end of the spring. Internally I employ a tapered coilspring Gr having its upper end bearing against the under side of thepiston and its lower end engaging a suitable ledge formed on the innerside of the cylinder at its lower end. In practice I form this ledge bysecuring to the lower end of the cylinder an annular flange H whichextends both outwardly and inwardly of the wall of the cylinder. Thisflange prevents the cylinder sinking into the clothes in such a manneras to seal up the mouth of the cylinder and prevent water being forcedfrom the cylinder through and among the clothes. It also provides anengagement for the coil spring, as hereinbefore referred to. Tofacilitate the exit of water from the cylinder the flange may becorrugated, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The operation of the device is as follows The clothes having beenproperly soaked and placed in a suitable tub, with the necessary soapand water, the apparatus is pressed down upon the clothes and the handlerapidly operated to force a stream of hot soapy water back and forththrough and among the clothes. The clothes are of course repeatedlyturned about and the instrument applied to different parts until thewhole has been effectively cleansed.

This apparatus will be found not only to be cheap but also effective inoperation, and not liable to get out of order.

The preferable method of forming the bottom of the device is as shown inFigs. 2 and 5, in which the open middle space is crossed .by the crossbars as and 1, with openings around the flange e, and corrugations e, asindicated, leading up to the holes from the middle opening. WVhen thebottom is made in this manner better suction is obtained, and quickeraction can be obtained when working the pump.

WVhat I claim as my invention is: V p 1. In apparatus of the classdescribed the combination of a cylinder open at one end; a pistonworking therein; a handle secured to the piston; a spring tending toraise the piston; an outwardly extending annular flange formed at thelower edge of the cylinder with a series of openings formed therein; andcorrugations between each of the openings in the flange and the inneropening.

2. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a cylinderopen at one end; a piston working therein; a handle secured to thepiston; a spring tending to raise the piston; an outwardly extendingannular flange formed at the lower edge of the cylinder with a series ofopenings formed therein; corrugations between each of the openings inthe flange and the inner opening; and radial cross bars crossing theinner opening.

Toronto, Ont, 27th June, 1907.

MANUEL J. BAKER. Signed in the presence of,

J. EDW; MAYBEE, JOHN G. RIDoUT.

